Your imagination has been captured by the roaring rockets from Heinlein's SPACE CADET or the Polaris from TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET. But are such rockets possible? How does one go about defining the performance of these atomic-powered cruisers?

This document gives some hints and equations that will allow back-of-the-envelope calculations on such matters. Though horribly simplistic, they are far better than just making up your figures.

This site was mainly intended for science fiction authors who wanted a little scientific accuracy. But anybody who is interested can play with the toys contained within, designing their own Planet Rangers Rocketships. It is assumed that the reader has enough knowledge to know the difference between a star and a planet, high school mathematics, and enough skill to use a pocket calculator. Computer spreadsheet and computer programming skills are a plus, spreadsheets in particular will make your life much easier.

The engine and the torchship pages explain how easily do some of the calculations using Nomograms. PDF versions of the nomograms can be downloaded from those pages, or printed versions can be purchased from

While this site originally focused on rocketry equations, as you can see it has grown to encompass other topics of interest to SF authors and game designers.

The files contain a wide range of UFO-related documents covering the years 1994-2000.Find out more about close encounters, strange illnesses, flying ‘Toblerones’ and unidentified objects tracked on radar.

How many times have you put off formatting your computer because of the dread of having to reinstall all your applications? If a lot, then you need the software installer Ninite. This website lets you pick your favorite software from among an extensive list (Web browsers, messaging, media, images, documents, security, runtimes, file sharing, utilities, compression, developer tools and more), creates a batch installer for them and then installs them for you automatically. You just need to press the "Install"-button once.

The tool keeps your system clean and lightweight: all settings are set to their default and Ninite automatically removes toolbars, spyware and other junk. Even better, your system's language and 64-bit support are checked to install the latest and optimum version of each program. Ninite is free for personal use, it runs on Windows XP/Vista/7, and no sign-up is required.

Unfortunately, you cannot create a batch installer for applications that are not listed on the website or for mobile applications. However, you can suggest an application, and most requested applications are added to the software list.

Not sure how many of you use Dropbox or something similar but I have grown addicted to it.

I have my main computer and my laptop and there is no telling when I am using either. On top of that, both of them are dual booted so I have up to 4 different computer frontends that I use.

So Dropbox allows me to have a shared folder amongst all of them that is always up to date with the latest files on it. It is almost magical in its usefulness. I have anything from documents/homework/notes/video inventory etc that I never know when I may need. I used to have to load up the certain configuration or at least the correct computer that holds it. Now it is all available all the time from any computer.

On top of that I can get to it from work through the online interface. So story/submission ideas that I start at home can be snuck on at work as well, reuploaded and when I boot up any system I almost instantly have the updated copy.

No, not trying to sell it but it is frick'n awesome. Tried to use Ubuntu One which pretty much sucked and saw this recommendation that will work on any system and I was hooked.